Being born in a vibrant state of Louisiana Sharon Pierce Shappley her early years spent soaking in the warmth and culture of the Caribbean islands. It was here, surrounded by diverse languages and rhythms, that her fascination with linguistics began. From a tender age, her curiosity about communication in different languages led to what would be a lifelong commitment to education.
Her academic journey is characterized by a sense of resilience and passion. Graduating in Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science with an Education Concentration and a minor in Child Development and further graduated in Magna Cum Laude August 22, 2011. Several years later, she pursued a Master’s degree in Education (MAED), which provided the foundation for an even more formidable challenge—the pursuit of her doctoral degree.
In 2022, Sharon was officially crowned for her Ph.D. in Education. Her dissertation centered on adult second language acquisition was a result of years of rigorous academic research and real-world experience. Despite the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including university closures and formatting changes, she adapted. She transformed the research process into an online experience, rewrote sections to comply with revised APA guidelines, and learned patience and perseverance in the face of uncertainty. She devoted herself to education and empowering learners was unwavering.
A Career Spanning Continents and Classrooms
Sharon’s professional journey in education began in 1974, with a humble start—teaching English to students in Puerto Rico who found it difficult to grasp the language in traditional classroom settings. What began as local tutoring blossomed into a global mission. Sharon has since taught in over a dozen countries, including Belarus, China, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, the USA, and Vietnam.
While pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in 2003, she became deeply invested in second language learning. This phase became a transformative chapter in her life, inspiring her to design an adaptable, level-based English curriculum that guides students from their existing proficiency to their aspirational fluency. Her teaching model has since evolved into a robust system, integrating contemporary methodologies and ensuring relevance in an ever-changing educational landscape.
Today, Sharon offers tailored learning opportunities through her digital platform. From middle school students to adult learners, the courses cater to varying levels of English proficiency, helping students not just understand written English but master it. Her courses are built with a focus on individual needs, and her doctoral research continues to influence ongoing curriculum refinement.
Currently, she is spearheading the launch of a comprehensive English-learning software aligned with European language acquisition standards. With ten proficiency levels (A1 to C2) and modules for five distinct age groups, this offering represents Sharon’s vision of accessible, high-quality language education. A single subscription opens access to fifty dynamic courses, and a 7-day free trial is available at sharonsclasses.org.
Managing Life, Lessons, and Learning
Balancing an expansive educational business and personal commitments has been a challenging yet rewarding endeavor for Sharon. With handwritten notebooks, intricate lesson plans, and over 900 lessons mapped across ten proficiency levels, her dedication to building a meaningful language-learning ecosystem is evident in every detail.
Her day rarely ends without carrying her laptop, ensuring she remains tethered to her mission of uplifting learners. Fortunately, Sharon is surrounded by a steadfast support system. From collaborators to loved ones, many have stepped in to assist—whether ironing out technical glitches, offering emotional encouragement, or simply ensuring she takes time to rest.
To maintain balance, she finds solace in travel. Cruises, in particular, offer her much-needed respite from the digital world, allowing for moments of reflection and rejuvenation. Sharon also remains an ardent supporter of the arts, frequenting concerts, plays, ballets, and sporting events, especially hockey.
Her students, meanwhile, serve as a continuous source of inspiration and joy. Weekly Zoom sessions go beyond academic discussions—they are communities of shared lives, laughter, and collaboration. Students often become testers and advisors, contributing real-time feedback to improve the software’s functionality and content. In times of frustration or fatigue, Sharon recalls these moments and the impact she is making.
Even during community celebrations, like Passover, her commitment doesn’t wane. She multitasks—attending festivities while uploading new content to her learning management system. Learning the ins and outs of platforms like Absorb LMS has brought fresh challenges, yet the delight in discovering features that can enhance student experiences keeps her enthusiasm alive. As she aptly summarizes, “It’s with a little help from my friends and an abundance of passion that I continued to thrive.”
Driven by a Purpose Greater Than Profit
Sharon Pierce Shappley isn’t just an educator; she’s a visionary with a cause. Her business isn’t motivated by profits alone—it’s about democratizing language education and helping learners unlock new opportunities through communication. Her professional persona is marked by goal orientation, collaborative energy, and an unyielding desire to see others succeed.
With an affinity for technology and presentation design, Sharon is constantly pushing the boundaries of conventional teaching methods. Whether collaborating with fellow educators or refining curriculum based on student feedback, she approaches her mission with grace, grit, and generosity.
She derives immense satisfaction from those ‘aha’ moments when a student finally grasps a challenging concept. “My mission is clear to offer affordable, effective English language instruction to anyone with the desire to learn—regardless of their economic or geographic limitations.” says Sharon.
Her business is her voice, her tool, and her testimony. It’s built on empathy, nurtured with knowledge, and sustained by resilience. “Running a business, I believe, is among the toughest jobs one can take on. But if fueled by belief in its value and executed with heart, it can become a beacon of transformation.” she commented.
The Fire Within: Passion as Fuel
What drives Sharon each day is an undying love for education. Books have always been her companions, and the joy she finds in reading is something she yearns to share with the world. Knowledge, she believes, is the key to a more compassionate, enlightened, and inclusive humanity.
The spark of passion ignites every time she sees students genuinely curious, not just trying to pass exams or appease parents. Her role is to provide them with the tools to grow, thrive, and find purpose. For Sharon, productivity isn’t measured in outputs alone—it’s the sense of accomplishment, the growth of self-worth, and the enrichment of lives.
Her family history, too, plays a poignant role in shaping her drive. She often recalls her grandmother, who reached only third grade and expressed deep regret over her limited education. That legacy is Sharon’s motivator. It compels her to ensure that no one is denied the joy of learning simply because of circumstance. Through education, she seeks to honor her ancestors and uplift future generations.
Sharon believes that “To truly be passionate about teaching, one must also be passionate about learning. The two go hand in hand, forming a cycle of growth and enrichment that benefits both student and teacher” she quotes. With every lesson, she’s not just teaching; she’s learning anew.
Turning Crisis Into Catalyst: The COVID Chapter
For Sharon, the pandemic was a paradox—filled with hardship but brimming with opportunity. When classrooms shut down and teachers were left without digital tools, she saw the gaps and stepped in to bridge them. As someone already seasoned in online education, she quickly became a guiding force.
The initial wave brought an influx of students worldwide. However, it wasn’t an easy transition. Training certified teachers to adapt to the digital realm took patience, energy, and resolve. Unlike in-person teaching, online education demanded more planning, more control, and a higher emotional bandwidth to keep students engaged.
Juggling multiple screens, setting up Zoom rooms, grading digital submissions, and managing virtual classrooms became the new norm. Amid this transformation, Sharon and her team turned to humor, resilience, and innovation. Prop sets, online competitions, spelling bees, and even cooking contests turned the virtual learning space into a lively, engaging community.
Heartbreak was also a reality—students and colleagues were lost to the virus, and grief hung heavy. But the mission carried on. They made space for socialization, creating global connections among young learners who laughed and learned across borders. It was education at its most human.
From those difficult months emerged a stronger, more agile platform. The challenges gave way to new tools, new lessons, and new victories. Sharon turned adversity into advantage, pain into passion, and isolation into inspiration. The world might have stood still, but her classroom continued to thrive. In the life and work of Sharon Pierce Shappley, education is not merely a profession—it is a calling. From childhood wonder to doctoral acclaim, from classroom walls in Puerto Rico to digital screens around the globe, she has remained steadfast in her mission. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, the impact of inspired teaching, and the immeasurable value of knowledge shared with love.
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